61 tonnes of poultry recalled in the US due to possible listeria contamination

The problem was discovered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after 4 samples tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Posted on Aug 21 ,02:02

61 tonnes of poultry recalled in the US due to possible listeria contamination

Tip Top Poultry, a US poultry producer, is recalling 61.6 tonnes of fully cooked poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).The items were produced on January 21, 2019, and shipped to hotels, restaurants, and institutions nationwide. Nevertheless, some of the products arrived on the Canadian market and may be the source of an outbreak of Listeria. The contamination was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after testing four samples of the product."The problem was discovered on August 17, 2019, when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified FSIS that a sample of product produced by Tip Top Poultry, Inc. confirmed positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Canadian public health and food safety partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, have been investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes. A ready-to-eat diced chicken product collected as part of the investigation tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The investigation is ongoing," announced FSIS in a press release.An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in institutional freezers. Institutions who have purchased these products are urged not to serve them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.